Therapists for college students near University of Southern California
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I work with clients who are struggling with feeling "not good enough" whether because of their own inner critic or because of marginalization and oppression from a world that is telling you you are "too much," or "not enough." I am passionate about helping clients move past their anxiety, self-doubt, and self-criticism to feel confident, secure, and proud of themselves. I also integrate career counseling into my work, helping clients move towards a future they are excited about. I offer individual and group therapy online for folks located in California and Connecticut. I see clients in person from my office in Ridgefield, CT. Visit my website or contact me to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.
I am a double board-certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry, and provide psychotherapy and personalized medication treatment. The core of my work is to provide a safe environment, where we build a strong and trusting relationship. I will help you explore your own story, current life challenges and open up possibilities for change in your life. Where medication can help, we can consider that option together. I consider ongoing therapy as an important part of optimizing any treatment with medication that can change your mood and behavior.
Do you ever feel as though life is even tougher than it should be, or that solutions always seem just out of reach? You're not alone, even though it can feel that way when stress builds up and you're not sure where to turn. Students today face a wide range of challenges on campus, such as demanding classes, financial pressures, and navigating new relationships with professors and peers, not to mention figuring out how you relate to your family, community, or even yourself as you enter adulthood. The uncertainty and decisions can be overwhelming. As a licensed psychologist with almost 8 years of private practice experience in San Francisco, I can help you think through overwhelming situations and develop strategies that will work for you. I am experienced in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, and many kinds of life transitions and stress. I believe therapy should provide a welcoming, supportive place to grow and practice relating to thoughts, feelings, and other people in healthier ways. A good therapy session should feel like a satisfying - if challenging, at times! - conversation with someone who really understands your needs and goals.
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Victor E. Frankl Making the decision to seek therapy is often a deeply personal one and something that you may not have come to easily. The unknown aspects of therapy can be intimidating, but I am here to create a safe and accepting environment where you can embrace your true self, with all its vulnerabilities and honesty. My belief in the innate power of every individual to grow and transform their lives fuels my passion for therapy. I am dedicated to fostering a collaborative and open-minded relationship with you. As the master of your own life, I see myself as a tool, utilizing my expertise to help you discover the best possible version of yourself and your life. On a personal note, I hold a BA in Psychology and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. Working with individuals who are ready to confront their challenges and make positive changes is my true calling. Our life experiences can have far-reaching implications, affecting relationships, work or school performance, self-image, and overall beliefs about oneself and the world. I enjoy working with diverse clients, including teens, young adults, singles, parents, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. While I take my work seriously, I am, by nature, a truly laid-back person and strive to make you feel welcomed and supported throughout our journey together. In the words of Abraham Maslow, "In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." I commend you for taking that first step forward.
Welcome to my practice! We all face challenges in our lives. With those challenges come opportunities to choose how we respond. Some of the difficulties we face include adapting to a new school, job, or relationship, making new friends, and finding meaning in one's life. Other challenges are unique to the individual like discrimination, identity concerns, or trauma. I create a safe space for clients where I am present, genuine, and empathetic. Central to my approach is learning about my clients in a nonjudgmental, affirming way. I help clients develop a deeper understanding of how their past and current experiences influence their thoughts and reactions. The therapeutic interventions I use help clients develop skills to meet their challenges. Therapy is a collaboration that leads to enhanced self-awareness and effective problem-solving. With increased understanding, skills, support, and resources, we have more freedom to effectively cope in ways that are consistent with our values. Freedom means we are not repeating previous maladaptive patterns, allowing us to live the life we want, experiencing greater fulfillment and happiness.
I have a passion for working with people who want to live more fulfilling lives with a more genuine connection to themselves and others. My clients feel more empowered in their actions and relationships instead of letting their unhelpful thoughts and behaviors take over, while growing a more accepting and compassionate perspective towards themselves. It’s always a good session when my clients feel challenged and motivated to work towards their goals between sessions. I believe that much of the therapy work is completed between sessions just as much as it is in the hour minutes we will spend together each week. As a therapist, I’m not afraid of bearing witness to your pain and fear while finding ways to recognize joy and hope. I truly believe in each of my clients’ ability to grow and change. As an Exposure-based therapist, I’ll encourage you to take steps to approach your fears and reclaim your life. As a woman of color, I am sensitive to the ways that identity and mental health intersect and impact each other. I take an action-oriented and direct approach. Therapy is an investment in YOU, and I value all that my clients put into this work. I aim to “work myself out of a job” with each client, because I know that the goal isn’t to stay in treatment forever– it’s to live happier and healthier lives.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.
There is nothing worse than feeling like you have become a disappointment to your family. That no matter how hard you try to navigate college, nothing you do will ever be good enough. Are you looking for a way to help your family understand YOUR struggles? To validate and support you, instead of saying, "it's just a phase, it will pass" or "Everyone has a hard time, you just need to try harder" or worse, "When I was your age I went through the same thing". I believe no one knows you better than you know yourself- even your family-and I want to help you express your needs in a way your family will hear, understand and be able to support you.
Its NOT easy to be a college student! Along with your achievements there could be a lot of stress, anxiety, frustration, and burnout due to various reasons! Being a parent of college going kids, I can hear you very well! Are you feeling stressed out, anxious, sad, abandoned, humiliated, unheard, hurt, lonely? Do you feel like people have taken advantage of you & nobody cares about you? Are you tired of hearing "get over with it"? The burnout can be devastating. Emotional wounds and trauma affect the rest of our life if left unattended and untreated. It manifests in the form of lack of concentration, sadness, low self-esteem, challenges in occupation, unstable relationships to name a few. DO NOT WORRY and do not wait to seek help for emotional pain/ injury as you wouldn't for physical injury. It's never too late to seek help! I will help you to thrive through the campus successfully! My mission is to help you to create insight into your present situation in relation to your past experiences and to empower you and/or your family to create the desired future! I specialize in working with college students (young adults), adults, couples, and families. I also work with grief & loss and immigrants' acculturation issues. Don't wait to take charge of your life! I offer free 20 minute phone consultation to check if we are the right fit. You can call me at (858)280-6030
Dr. Ca-Lie Cheng-Wang is a bilingual (English and Mandarin-speaking) licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in San Diego, California. Working closely with individuals experiencing relationship dysfunctions, addictions, substance use disorders, personality disorders, traumas, emotional distress, addictions, psychosis, mood-related issues, eating disorders, and acculturation issues. She provides psychotherapy and psychological evaluations to adolescents and adults. Through her work as a clinical psychologist, she helps patients overcome struggles and develop better-coping strategies to manage stressors. Dr. Cheng-Wang also provides risk assessments, psychological assessments, and evaluations to determine the patient’s current emotional states, biopsychosocial functioning, diagnosis, appropriate treatment plans, recommendations, and/or remediations. Dr. Cheng-Wang works closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other agencies to determine how to best treat and care for her patients. Dr. Cheng-Wang earned her Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University in San Diego, California in 2017. Dr. Cheng-Wang earned her psychoanalytic fellowship from San Diego Psychoanalytic Center, San Diego, California. She is a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology. She presently is an Adjunct Professor at California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Alliant International University in the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) departments, teaching Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior courses. Furthermore, Dr. Cheng-Wang was an Associate Level Certification with the State of California Sexual Offender Management Board (CASOMB). In addition, Dr. Cheng-Wang was the Secretary of the San Diego Psychological Association Supervisor Committee. Dr. Cheng-Wang has experience working in the forensic field, detention facilities, outpatient clinics, long-term residential treatment facilities, school, and hospital treatment settings. Her clinical experiences have been focused on diverse clientele, ranging from toddlers to geriatrics. She has experience providing individual, family, and group psychotherapy. Her specialty areas including the treatment of addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, relationship issues, attachment disorders, autism spectrum, anger management, personality disorders, and substance-related issues.
My name is Taj-Zsa Hower, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, as well as the owner of Minding My Own Therapy. I have more than 9 years of experience providing mental health services to a multitude of diverse individuals and couples. And 2 of those years were spent working in CSUCI Counseling and Psychological Services. While there, I absolutely loved working with the college population. In fact, I created a speciality service within my practice tailored to the needs and experiences I encountered while helping my clients; Adulting Therapy. I use the term Adulting Therapy to define the emotional and mental journey that young adults undergo when confronted with the varied responsibilities commonly linked to significant transitions into adulthood, such as college adjustment, interpersonal relationships, dating, career worries, financial concerns, and stress management. Just because we have entered adulthood, doesn’t mean we know all the answers or that we’ve conquered every challenge; however, what it can mean, is that we have more challenges, increased anxieties, and a higher need for support. Adulting Therapy can be that support! Adulting Therapy will offer a place to openly address any and everything you are feeling, experiencing, and going through, so you don’t have to face them alone. I deeply enjoy and greatly value being a psychotherapist, as my clients gift me the special opportunity to be a guiding influence in the midst of their life’s journeys. A role that I accept seriously and wholeheartedly. If you believe we may be a good fit or just have more questions, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!
Online or in-person, this is designated for individuals to process and explore their feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Typically, meetings are weekly or bi-weekly. This is a great option if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. I help millennials and young adults explore the challenges in their life and find ways to more effectively manage feelings that are no longer serving them. I have worked with a lot of different populations in my career but I really love working with young professionals, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Do you feel controlled by anxiety or OCD? Feeling like you have to constantly seek reassurance or perform rituals to feel better? These disorders operate on what is called a Vicious Cycle: 1) encounter trigger/obsessive thought 2) experience distress 3) engage in compulsions or safety behavior/s, which leads to 4) relief. The frustrating part about this cycle is that the relief is short-lived. Before you know it, the obsessive fear and compulsions are back, taking up more time and mental resources to cope. The good news is that together, we can end the cycle and find long-term relief. Treating OCD and Anxiety disorders require specialized training and experience. I have trained under internationally recognized psychologists, Dr. Jenny Yip and Dr. Eda Gorbis. I have worked with clients at all levels of care, including IOP, PHP, and outpatient. Currently, I provide individual and family outpatient treatment for those aged 10+, in person and via telehealth. I know therapy can be a challenging endeavor, that's why I aim to cultivate a warm and collaborative therapeutic environment, where we can defeat your OCD and Anxiety together! Feel free to reach out for a complimentary 30-minute consultation.
You may be feeling tired of the world as it is—overstimulated, uncertain, and emotionally demanding. Whether you appear strong and capable or feel overwhelmed, many people are carrying fear, exhaustion, and a longing for something steady to hold onto. The people I work with often feel worn down by repeating patterns like people-pleasing or overextending, or feel stuck and disconnected when life feels unstable. I provide a grounded, safe environment where you can truly slow down and breathe. My approach bridges the gap between traditional clinical expertise and alternative ways of healing. I offer evidence-based practices like CBT, ACT, MBCT and Narrative Therapy. In addition to this, I also integrate somatic-based practices, Buddhism psychology, Akashic Record reading, and other spiritual healing practices into our work together. I work with self-identity, relationships, burnout, boundaries, and life transitions—especially during times of uncertainty. My goal is to help you develop an inner anchor you can return to when life feels chaotic, and to support you in moving toward a life that feels more aligned, peaceful, and sustainable.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is passionate about supporting first-generation individuals navigating identity, family expectations, and the pressure to succeed. As a bilingual Latina therapist, I offer therapy in English and Spanish and understand the cultural layers that shape your experience. My goal is to create a warm, welcoming space where you feel heard, validated, and supported as you explore your emotions, strengthen your confidence, and move toward the life you want with clarity and compassion.
When you're struggling with an eating disorder, anxiety, or depression, the idea of opening up and trusting another person can be HARD. I know that you've likely heard so many messages throughout your life about what you should do and who you should be, but I don't think that "shoulds" have a place in therapy. Who do you WANT to be? How do you WANT to feel? That is way more important than any shoulds, and I would be honored to walk alongside you as you start to find answers to these questions over time. Together, we can unravel those expectations - what you've been told it means to be healthy or successful or fill in the blank - and get to the heart of what really matters to you and what you need. Being a human is messy, and as your therapist, I'll be right there in that space with you as a human first, therapist second. Let's explore what it means to be humans in a world that expects perfection (which doesn't exist!) and pushes you to grind until you're too burned out to do the things you actually want to do. Whether you realize it today or not, you deserve peace. I have many tools in my toolbox to support you, but to me the most important thing I can do is to provide you a safe space to explore your experience in its entirety at your own pace - to build a connection that is strong enough for you to know that I won't judge you or make you bad or wrong for how you are feeling or for using certain behaviors to cope. It's what you've known to do up to this point, so let's put our heads together and find the ways that this has made sense so we can look at it from a place of compassion instead of judgment. This is a shame-free space! I hold a special place in my heart for those who are working towards eating disorder recovery who feel like they aren't sick enough because their body size, race, sexuality, or gender identity don't match what they are seeing on social media under the eating disorder hashtags. All identities are welcome here, and no matter what your circumstances, your concerns are valid, you ARE sick enough, and you deserve compassionate, equitable care. If anything I've said here makes you think "I like her vibe," please don't hesitate to reach out. I would love to chat further about what it would look like for us to work together.
I work with people in transition or who are preparing for change. Artists, actors and writers. Those in bereavement. Or who are living with a catastrophic health-related diagnosis, recent or of long duration. Caregivers. Mental health interns who need to explore their own issues in order to practice mindfully. Folks who are using substances more than they want. People who want to decrease their distress but who also have a curiosity about its sources. People who want to talk with someone about the most important thing in the world, perhaps to discover what that is. My specialty is the intuitive analysis of what is most important to you. My experience has shown me that we carry within us the answers we're looking for. My skill is in eliciting these answers and reflecting them back to you so you recognize them. I've been trained in Depth psychology, Narrative psychology and Cognitive Behavior therapy, in dream analysis and evidence-based practices like Seeking Safety. In addition to private practice I've directed multiple community mental health and recovery programs, as well as provided training and clinical supervision to new therapists.
Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.